Best Protein Powder for Weight Gain (2024): Let the Gains Begin

Weight loss is a goal that’s notoriously a struggle. However, weight gain, though a less common struggle, can be just as difficult. This is especially true for individuals who are extraordinarily active, often burning way more calories than they can consume. Even when active people have high caloric requirements, the matter of having the budget, time, and appetite to actually meet those requirements is a totally different obstacle. 

When taken during a resistance training program, a large number of studies, including one published in The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness¹, have demonstrated that calorie-rich supplements, such as the best mass gainer protein powder, can have a significant impact on muscle gain.

Mass gainers are purely meant to supplement the calories in your diet, not make up the majority of them. And below, our team of sports dietitians, nutritionists, and certified personal trainers wanted to provide you with the best choices that our testers picked from the most popular protein powders for weight gain on the market.

We also want to flag that we worked with an independent accredited lab, Ellipse Analytics, to test and rate more than 150 protein powders for purity and label accuracy. We then scored them and chose to feature products that ranked in the top 50% of the samples tested. You’ll see those products designated below.

Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider.

Best Protein Powder for Weight Gain

• Best Overall Protein Powder for Weight Gain: Transparent Labs Mass Gainer
• Best Natural Protein Powder for Weight Gain: Legion Whey+
• Best Casein Protein Powder for Weight Gain: Legion Casein
• Best Budget Protein Powder for Weight Gain: Nutricost Whey Protein Concentrate
• Best Vegan Protein Powder for Muscle Gain: KOS Vegan Protein
• Best Protein Powder for Weight Gain With Lower Carbs: Kaged Re-Kaged
• Best Protein Powder for Weight Gain and Muscle-Building: Muscle Milk Pro Series
• Best-Tasting Protein Powder for Weight Gain: Rival Nutrition Clean Gainer
• Best High-Calorie Protein Powder for Muscle Gain: Dymatize Super Mass Gainer

Best Overall Protein Powder for Weight Gain: Transparent Labs Mass Gainer 

Good for: People who want transparency in the ingredients of their mass gainer

Best Overall

Transparent Labs Mass Gainer

GGR Score: 4.5

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Product Highlights

• 760 calories per serving
• Each serving provides 53 grams of protein, 13 grams of fat, and 109 grams of carbs
• Formulated to support lean muscle mass 
• Carbohydrates are derived from tapioca, oat, and sweet potato sources
• Available in Sweet Vanilla and Chocolate Donut flavors
• Sweetened with Stevia and monk fruit

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Contains creatine monohydrate
• Free from artificial ingredients
• Derived from nature-based sources
• No added sugar
• Gluten-free and non-GMO
• Completely transparent list of ingredients
• Taste

Cons

• High saturated fat count
• Expensive
• Shipping takes a long time
• 1:2 ratio of protein to carb may not be enough for some

Bottom Line

Transparent Labs Mass Gainer is one of the more expensive mass gainer supplements, but it offers high-quality, naturally occurring, and clean ingredients that taste good.

The Transparent Labs promise is to offer quality sports nutrition products that are transparently labeled. The ingredients you find in each scoop are of the highest quality, with clinically effective doses that won’t contain any proprietary blends, artificial sweeteners, GMOs, artificial colors, or flavors.

That’s a big reason why it is our pick for the best overall protein powder for weight gain. However, I want to also point out a bonus feature of this mass gainer and that’s the addition of creatine monohydrate to the ingredient list. 

A review done in 2022 concluded that, given all the evidence that’s come out in the last decade, creatine is the most established and well-researched sports supplement for strength gain and muscle growth in young adults who engage in regular training_^2.

So, it seems like a no-brainer to include it in a supplement often used by people trying to put on lean muscle, right?

More than half of the weight of a serving of Transparent Labs Mass Gainer is maltodextrin, which is a super common ingredient in products like these. It digests quickly in the body and packs your scoops with more calories. What we really love, though, is that the other carbs and fats are sourced from whole food sources including oats, sweet potatoes, and coconut milk. 

Despite providing a good amount of carbohydrates, it must also be noted that this mass gainer contains a fair amount of saturated fat, which is not harmful in the case of active individuals who have a healthy diet in general. However, it’s advised that you be wary of how much and how often you are ingesting it if you have heart problems or are concerned about getting heart disease.

GGR Senior Editor Nicole Davis taste-tested the Chocolate Glaze donut flavor of this mass gainer and said it was yummy. ”It was definitely giving donut!”

Read our full Transparent Labs Mass Gainer review for even more information about this product.

Best Natural Protein Powder for Weight Gain: Legion Whey+

Good for: Individuals in need of a plant-based, super high-calorie serving of protein powder 

Best Natural

Legion Whey+

GGR Score: 4

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Product Highlights

• Sourced from small dairy farms in Ireland
• Over 5 g of BCAAs per serving
• Non-GMO and animal welfare approved
• Third-party tested for banned substances

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Low in carbs and fat
• Natural ingredients
• Money-back guarantee
• Made with ethically-sourced milk
• Lots of flavor options

Cons

• Comparably high cost per serving
• May be clumpy when mixed
• Some flavors have mixed reviews

Bottom Line

Legion Whey+ is a clean, sustainable protein powder that also is macro-friendly and a great option for anyone looking for a clean protein supplement.

Legion Whey+ is an all-natural protein powder that packs anywhere from 22 to 25 grams of protein, depending on the flavor, per scoop. It’s Truly Grass Fed, meaning the dairy is sourced from cows that spend most of their lives outdoors eating grass (as nature intended). They use a whey protein isolate that’s easier to digest and contains the clinically-recommended amount of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) for muscle growth and weight gain.

And if you’re wondering, yes, grass-fed dairy makes a difference. Studies have shown that milk from grass-fed cows had a higher amount of antioxidants than milk from grain-fed cows. Grass-fed dairy also has a better ratio of Omega-3/Omega-6 fatty acids.

Certified nutrition coach, GGR performance editor, and certified big guy Anthony O’Reilly loves this as a mid-day snack. He gave the Cinnamon Cereal flavor a 5 out of 5, describing it as the milk at the bottom of a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. “If you, like me, let your cereal sit for a bit so the milk soaks up all the flavor, you’ll love this,” he says.

If a protein shake is a little too low-calorie for your liking, Anthony provides a protein cinnamon French Toast recipe in his Legion whey protein review.

We also just have to let you know that Legion Whey+ was part of GGR’s own independent testing of more than 150 protein powders in conjunction with third-party accredited lab Ellipse Analytics. We tested for label accuracy and purity (you can read more in our Independent Supplement Testing Glossary) and Legion Whey+ received an overall score of Meets Standard, which means it’s in the top 50% of products we tested.

Best Casein Protein Powder for Weight Gain: Legion Casein+

Good for: People who want a protein powder to help prevent muscle loss

Best Casein

Legion Athletics Casein+ Protein Powder

GGR Score: 4

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Product Highlights

• Milk-derived casein protein powder
• Thick texture
• 5 flavor options
• Sourced from grass-fed cattle
• 25 g protein per serving 
• 5 grams of BCAAs and 11.4 grams of EAAs per serving

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Sourced from grass-fed cattle
• 100% micellar casein
• Tasty flavor options
• Smooth, rich, creamy texture
• Analyzed for purity and potency in an ISO 17025 accredited lab
• 0g added sugar
• Includes BCAAs and EAAs
• Subscribe-and-save option

Cons

• Casein protein is significantly thicker than whey
• Casein can cause bloating and gas, especially upon initial use
• Takes quite a bit of shaking to get rid of all clumps

Bottom Line

Legion Athletics Casein+ Protein Powder comes in several delicious flavors, and we’re fans of the Banana Cream Pie. Casein can be consumed as a shake, or with less water, like a pudding. This protein has 25 grams of protein per 110-calorie serving.

With only 130 calories per serving, Legion’s micellar casein powder isn’t on the high end of the calorie spectrum when compared to the other products on our list. Despite this, using casein as the protein source of this protein powder still makes it possible to contribute to gaining weight from lean muscle mass. We have a full Legion Casein+ review, but here are the highlights.

Studies have shown³ that ingesting 40 to 48 grams of casein 30 minutes before sleep could help with muscle recovery and performance. The repeated practice of this might also cause intramuscular adaptation, which means your muscles become more efficient at recovering over time. 

Finally, the study proposes that casein helps with muscle recovery by increasing the amount of amino acids that stay in your blood because casein digests so slowly. In turn, this results in more protein synthesis, prevents muscle breakdown, and weakens exercise-induced muscle damage.

So, to get these benefits in the spirit of gaining weight, you could consume two scoops of protein powder for 52 grams of casein protein and 260 calories. Legion’s Casein+, like all of Legion’s protein products, is 100% natural, uses no artificial flavors or sweeteners and, quite frankly, is pretty consistently tasty. The addictive flavors of this protein powder is enough to pack on some pounds alone.

Also, in GGR’s independent testing of more than 150 protein powders for label accuracy and purity, in conjunction with third-party accredited lab Ellipse Analytics, Legion Casein+ received an overall Meets Standard rating, which means that it ranked in the top 50% of products we tested and passed our rigorous quality screen. (Read more about what we tested for in our Independent Supplement Testing Glossary.)

RELATED: Best Casein Protein Powder

Best Budget Protein Powder for Weight Gain: Nutricost Whey Protein Concentrate

Good for: People who need a thrifty choice they can afford to take long-term

Best Budget

Nutricost Whey Protein Concentrate

GGR Score: 4.6

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Product Highlights

• 25 grams of whey protein concentrate per serving
• Available in 5 flavors, including unflavored
• High-quality ingredients and third-party testing
• Supports lean muscle growth and recovery after workouts

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Non-GMO and gluten-free
• Manufactured in GMP-compliant facility
• Unflavored option only contains one ingredient, instantized whey protein concentrate

Cons

• Whey concentrate may not mix as well as whey isolate
• Flavored options are higher in calories than other whey proteins

Bottom Line

Nutricost Whey Concentrate contains 25 grams of high-quality whey protein concentrate, available in five flavors. It's gluten-free, non-GMO, manufactured in a GMP-compliant facility, and third-party tested.

Nutricost Whey Protein Concentrate is a high-quality whey protein supplement that absolutely gives you a bang for your buck. One serving of this tasty whey protein concentrate will cost you anywhere between $0.78 and $0.99 when you purchase the 5-pound container. That’s significantly lower than many other protein powders out there and for that reason, we’re rating it a 5-out-of-5 for pricing. 

Calorie-wise, one scoop contains between 130 and 150 calories (depending on the flavor) and 25 grams of protein per serving. You can mix this powder with some additional carbs or drink it paired with a carb-heavy snack if you’re working towards a caloric surplus and need some quick calories and protein. 

This protein powder is honestly pretty bare-bones, but we don’t mind because it makes it easier to stack it with other supplements. If you really want to amp up calories for your weight-gain journey, the chocolate peanut butter flavor would be great blended with real peanut butter and a frozen banana or two. Kate Meier, GGR’s Senior Director of Content, used the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor almost daily for two weeks, and said she absolutely loved it. 

Kate mixed the whey protein powder with both milk and water and said that while the water version was fine, she really loved the consistency and flavor when she mixed it with milk. When talking about the texture of the protein powder mixed with milk, Kate said, “It tastes absolutely amazing. It’s creamy like you would expect a melted milkshake to be.” If you’re looking for milkshake vibes in your protein shake, then this one will probably hit the spot. She gave it a 5-out-of-5 rating for taste and also a 5-out-of-5 rating for solubility. 

While this protein is gluten-free, it’s unfortunately not dairy-free, so keep that in mind if you have any sensitivities. Lastly, Nutricost whey protein concentrate is third-party tested, which is pretty uncommon for budget brand supplements.

Best Vegan Protein Powder for Weight Gain: KOS Vegan Protein

Good for: Vegans who want a mass gainer with additional health-promoting ingredients

Best Vegan

KOS Vegan Protein Powder

GGR Score: 4

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Product Highlights

• Multi-source vegan protein powder 
• USDA-certified organic, soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO
• Digestive support via DigeSEB to help maximize absorption

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Manufactured in the USA
• Superfood-infused
• 20 g protein per serving
• Chocolate flavor is rich
• Enhanced with digestive support enzymes
• Under $1.50 per serving

Cons

• Customers say it has a gritty/chalky flavor
• Some users reported protein gave them stomach issues
• Reports of strong sweetness and bad aftertaste

Bottom Line

KOS is a vegan protein with a lot of positive reviews, but a number of people experienced stomach issues using this protein powder.

KOS Vegan Protein is a great plant-based protein powder because it contains 160 calories and 20 grams of high-quality plant protein. The company ensures you’re getting all the essential amino acids and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) needed for muscle growth by combining pea protein, flax seed protein, quinoa protein, pumpkin seed protein, and chia seed protein.

It’s also one of the few protein powders that may just as much attention to micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) as macronutrients (protein, carbs, fat). KOS has a superfoods and vitamins and minerals blend that provides high quantities of compounds needed for optimal health, such as iron for creating new red blood cells.

Certified sports nutrition coach and GGR senior staff writer Amanda Capritto awards this a 3 out of 5 on taste. She says it’s not super earthy-y or plant-tasting like many other vegan protein powders and has a rich chocolate taste. “It’s not great but it’s not horrible, and what more can you ask for when you’re drinking vegan protein powder?” she says.

There’s also a digestive enzyme blend that may aid digestion.

RELATED: Best Vegan Protein Powder

Best Protein Powder for Weight Gain with Lower Carbs: Kaged Re-Kaged

Good for: Someone who’s calorie- and carb-conscious but still wants to add size

Best With Lower Carbs

Kaged Re-Kaged

GGR Score: 4.15

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Product Highlights

• Recovery blend includes L-glutamine, digestive enzymes, and creatine HCI
• Formulated to build lean muscle and improve recovery time 
• Scientifically-researched ingredients at appropriate ratios
• Unique flavors: strawberry lemonade, iced lemon cake, and orange kream
• Banned-substance free

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Mixes well
• Unique flavors
• Reportedly highly effective
• Only 1 gram of sugar
• Contains L-glutamine and creatine

Cons

• Too sweet for some people
• Contains sucralose
• May cause digestive issues

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a post-workout product that not only improves recovery but also is designed to build muscle mass, Kaged Re-Kaged may be the right option for you.

Unlike most of the other protein powders on our list, Kaged’s post-workout protein has only 2 grams of net carbs per serving. This makes it an excellent option for people scouring this list for a low-carb option either out of preference or because they need to gain some mass on a low-carb diet.

This formulation also includes creatine, which we covered earlier as being a proven way to help with gaining muscle mass when ingested consistently. It also contains a substance called Prohydrolase, which is a mixture of digestive enzymes called proteases that break down proteins during digestion.

By combining Prohydrolase with whey protein, you’ll be able to increase the amount of BCAAs (branched chain amino acids) in your blood more rapidly, which in turn will allow your muscles to absorb these amino acids more efficiently. You can also benefit from it by ensuring that your protein supplement is digested more smoothly. 

The results of a study conducted in 2020⁴, which administered ProHydrolase to male strength-trainers, seem to support these findings. Based on the results, ProHydrolase did indeed increase blood levels of amino acids more rapidly than a placebo that did not contain digestive enzymes.

According to clinical studies like the one cited above, the effective dose of ProHydrolase is 10 milligrams per gram of protein, and the makers of Re-Kaged apparently took close note of the science! There are 28 grams of protein and 280 milligrams of ProHydrolase in each serving of Re-Kaged. So, even though the calories in this protein powder is low for a mass gainer, it contains other compounds that are powerful tools for hypertrophy. 

The last thing you need to know is that Kaged Re-Kaged has been third-party tested by Informed Choice, which means that it has been tested by an independent lab in order to ensure that it is safe, pure, and free from banned substances like performance-enhancing drugs. In GGR’s own independent testing of more than 150 protein powders with third-party accredited lab Ellipse Analytics, Kaged Re-Kaged also received an Above Average overall ranking when we looked at label accuracy and purity together. You can read more about our testing in our Independent Supplement Testing Glossary.

Our Kaged Re-Kaged review also has more comprehensive thoughts about this product.

Best Protein Powder for Weight Gain and Muscle-Building: Muscle Milk Pro Series

Good for: Anyone who wants a mass gainer that can be consumed at any time of the day

Best for Muscle-Building

Muscle Milk Pro Series Protein Powder

GGR Score: 4

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Product Highlights

• 50 grams of protein per serving
• Mix of fast- and slow-releasing proteins
• NSF Certified for Sport: No banned substances and product matches what is on the label 
• Available in 3 flavors

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 50 grams of protein per serving
• NSF Certified for Sport
• 3 different flavors available
• Available at wide variety of stores

Cons

• Large serving size at 2 scoops/82 grams
• Mixed reviews on taste
• Contains sucralose
• Low servings per container

Bottom Line

Muscle Milk Pro Series Protein Powder has a high protein content with 50 grams of protein per serving to help promote muscle growth and recovery.

Muscle Milk is a company owned by Gatorade (bet you didn’t know what, did you), so it’s been formulated specifically for athletes and athletic performance. One serving of the Pro Series protein powder contains 50 grams of milk protein and 20 vitamins and minerals including iron, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin A. 

In addition to that, Muscle Milk Pro Series offers a blend of high-quality slow-release and fast-release proteins to enhance amino acid levels and promote muscle growth. It achieves this by having milk protein isolate as the main source of protein. Unlike whey protein isolate, milk protein contains both casein and whey in proportions of 80% and 20%, respectively⁵. 

So, with 50 grams of protein per serving, this is a mass gainer that would work best as a general use for weight gain and building lean mass rather than a pre- or post-workout protein supplement. 

An important note for those who normally drink the ready-to-drink Muscle Milk protein shakes: Unlike those products, this protein powder is not lactose-free. So, if that’s something you’re sensitive to, this is not the version of Muscle Milk you’re going to want.

Finally, all Muscle Milk Protein Powders are NSF Certified for Sport, a qualification that indicates the products have been screened for more than 270 substances that are prohibited by most major athletic organizations.

Read our Muscle Milk review to learn more about the sister product to the Pro Series, regular Muscle Milk.

Best-Tasting Protein Powder for Weight Gain: Rival Nutrition Clean Gainer

Good for: Anyone who wants a high-calorie supplement that tastes great and is sourced from whole food ingredients

Best-Tasting

Rival Nutrition Clean Gainer

GGR Score: 4.2

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Product Highlights

• Rival Nutrition Clean Gainer combines all-natural, high-quality ingredients to provide a supplement that effectively aides lean muscle growth
• Compared to other weight gainer, this one is low-calorie and low-fat
• Available in six flavors sweetened with sucralose and Stevia
• Each serving provides approximately 560 calories, 30 grams of protein, 99 grams of carbs, and 5 grams of fat

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Mixes well
• Taste
• Clean ingredients
• Low-calorie compared to other weight gainers
• Low-fat
• Affordable
• 6 flavors

Cons

• Contains sucralose
• Lower protein content

Bottom Line

Rival Nutrition Clean Gainer is an affordable mass-building supplement made from clean macronutrient sources with a lower calorie count than most weight gainers.

A protein powder that comes in Campfire S’mores flavor? Yes, please! There are many things to love about Rival Nutrition’s Clean Gainer, and two of them are that it tastes great, and a lot of the ingredients are sourced from whole foods. 

It still has the rather ubiquitous maltodextrin high on the ingredient list, but other carb sources include quinoa, blueberry, and bran. It also has some fat from avocado, coconuts, and flax seed. 

A state-of-the-art, U.S.-based, cGMP facility manufactures this mass gainer, so you can rest assured that each ingredient in this mass gainer is of the highest quality and is third-party tested by Informed Choice to ensure safety and accuracy.

There are 30 grams of whey and milk protein per serving. However, most of the calories from this protein powder come from carbohydrates, with there being 97 grams in every two scoops and the carbs coming from eight different sources. That, and the relatively low amount of fat, would make this a great pre-workout and post-workout along with a delicious mass gainer. In fact, Rival Nutrition suggests you take this after a workout and once before bed.

Best High-Calorie Protein Powder for Weight Gain: Dymatize Super Mass Gainer

Good for: People who don’t mind drinking a high-volume shake for a higher-calorie diet

Best High-Calorie

Dymatize Super Mass Gainer

GGR Score: 3.75

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Product Highlights

• Formulated with fast- and slow-absorbing, high-quality protein blends
• Each serving provides 1,200-1,310 calories (depending on flavor)
• Each serving contains 52 g of protein, 245 g of carbs, and 14 vitamins and minerals
• Can be used to bake with
• Banned substance-tested
• Formulated to gain mass quickly
• Available in two flavors: Rich Chocolate and Gourmet Vanilla

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Banned substance-tested
• Added vitamins and minerals
• Fast- and slow-absorbing protein blends
• Tastes good
• Includes BCAAs

Cons

• Requires 2.5 cups of powder for one serving
• Thick
• High sugar content
• Contains sucralose

Bottom Line

High in calories, carbohydrates, and protein, Dymatize Super Mass Gainer could be a choice for those who do not mind large servings or artificial ingredients.

This monster of a protein powder is a popular pick for a reason. There are approximately 1,300 calories contained in every serving of Dymatize Super Mass Gainer, in addition to 52 grams of whey and milk protein, as well as 245 grams of carbohydrates. What I really appreciate is, even though there are 10 grams of fat per serving, only 2 of them come from saturated fat.  

This mass gainer also contains 14 vitamins and minerals and 1 gram of creatine monohydrate. We do have to note that, for weight gain, the clinically effective dose of creatine is about 3 grams to 5 grams a day.

As is a common feature of mass gainers with a calorie count this high, the serving size is very large. There are about 2.5 cups of powder and can make a concoction that’s quite thick. Sure, you can definitely add in some more liquid to help it out (and if it’s a calorie-dense liquid like whole milk, even better for gains). 

However, you should be prepared for a very high volume of shake if you do this. We’re talking like more than a liter of protein shake. If this is something you don’t mind, Dymatize is an extremely efficient way to help out your daily calorie surplus. 

Other Protein Powder for Weight Gain We Researched

Other protein powders on the market can sure be used as a tool to gain weight, including these two:

• BSN True Mass: The taste of this one is OK, but it tends to get clumpy easily, and its macronutrient profile wasn’t quite as impressive.
• Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass: This one tastes good but is not cheap, and it’s also lacking third-party testing. Read more in our Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass review.

How We Picked and Tested the Best Protein Powder for Weight Gain

Why are we here? To provide you with our expert opinions on the best-tasting, most effective protein powders for weight gain that are made with high-quality ingredients and, most of all, will help you put on some weight safely. Here is the criteria we went with:

Calorie Content

This is the most obvious one, so let’s get it out of the way first. Though not all of the supplements on this list are super high in calories, ingesting plenty of calories is absolutely non-negotiable if you want to build muscle—it’s not just about protein intake! So, we wanted to help you choose a gainer protein powder that can help you easily boost your daily calorie intake. 

Trusted Brands

Our goal is to recommend brands that are not only well-known in the sports nutrition world, but also trusted for their integrity in making the best protein powders. All of the companies on this list were either personally used by us as dietitians, trainers, athletes, or in other capacities in our practice. We’ve seen them in action! In other words, we would be remiss if we did not mention the best protein powders available on the market, based on firsthand experience. 

Sugar Content

There is usually a great deal of caution in people’s minds when it comes to supplements that contain preservatives and synthetic ingredients. However, even though the goal is weight gain, inflammatory ingredients like sugar also have to be taken into account. Luckily, most of the protein powders on this list are naturally sweetened. 

However, if you are consuming a large amount of sugar, especially if it isn’t timed correctly to benefit performance, you may be negating the health benefits of all the other work you’re doing to build lean muscle mass. 

Protein Amount

The protein content of a mass gainer doesn’t mean much when you’re trying to build muscle if you’re not consuming enough daily calories, just to be clear. However, it’s both the combination of a calorie surplus and eating enough protein that is going to give you the gains you’re looking for. So, we didn’t just choose mass gainers that had crazy amounts of calories; we paid attention to the protein content as well. 

Benefits of Protein Powder for Weight Gain

Whether you’re looking for a meal replacement, a post-workout drink, or you’re just on a hardcore mission to gain muscle, there are plenty of benefits and applications to a gainer protein powder—if you use it correctly. 

Excellent for Hard Gainers

If you identify as a “hard gainer,” that’s probably why you’re even reading this right now. The term “hard gainer” refers to a person whose primary hobby is bodybuilding, but who has a difficult time putting on muscle despite intense training and being in a dramatic calorie surplus. Hard gainers find they cannot eat enough food to reach the surplus they need to build muscle and some even make themselves sick trying.

So, a supplement like the best whey protein powder can be a useful way to get in a ton of calories much faster and in a much smaller volume than it would take to consume the same amount of calories from food. 

Boosts Daily Calorie Intake

Similarly, even if you aren’t a hard gainer, there are some people who can benefit from a protein powder for weight gain. It can be used as a meal replacement for people who can’t eat food properly due to a recent surgery, dental work, or health condition. Since it can be ingested in a liquid form, almost anyone who is struggling to eat enough calories to maintain their health can consume a mass gainer safely and efficiently. 

Helps Intake After Injury

Following an injury, athletes commonly find that they don’t have much of an appetite, especially if they’ve had a surgery to help repair that injury. However, I also often find athletes immediately panic when they find out how often they’ll be out of play and how long their break from training will be due to an injury. Some of this panic comes from fear of losing their muscle mass and strength.

Luckily, this loss can be mitigated by continuing to keep calorie intake high and, even in the absence of an appetite, mass gainers can be a terrific help due to the high amount of calories they contain. Bonus points if the mass gainer also includes creatine, since creatine is also used in sports to supplement an injured athlete to further mitigate muscle catabolism⁶. 

Dosing and Interactions 

When taken as directed, whey protein is likely to be safe for most adults. Several side effects can be experienced with high protein doses, including bowel movement changes, acne, nausea, thirst, bloating, sleep issues, and headaches. Generally, unless you have sensitivities to whey or milk, protein powder with these sources are generally very safe. 

RELATED: Does Protein Powder Cause Acne?

Third-Party Testing

Protein powder brands proudly bearing the seal of third-party testing are also letting you know an unbiased source has cleared the protein powder of containing heavy metals, banned substances, and other harmful ingredients that may have been accidentally added during processing or even put there intentionally.

Seriously, I’ve seen athletes lose out on draft placements because they were taking a protein powder that lacked third-party testing and ended up containing a banned substance, which caused them to fail a drug test. This harmless mistake can be catastrophic for a college or professional athlete’s career. 

In my opinion, the danger of being exposed to banned substances, performance enhancers, and other weird ingredients goes up exponentially with mass gainers. The reason these things are added in the first place is because some sleazy supplement companies care about you buying more of their product and raving to all of your gym bros about how big it helped you get. 

That’s why some supplement companies will add whatever they can to make this a reality and, since the FDA does not regulate supplements, this is a much more common practice than you may think. 

So, while third-party testing isn’t a requirement for most people just trying to find a protein product for casual use, I always tell my athletes to exclusively choose third-party-tested protein powder to protect themselves. Luckily, there are plenty on our list to choose from. 

Buying Guide: What to Look for in Protein Powder for Weight Gain

Don’t spring for the budget protein powders in your local convenience store that are all maltodextrin, preservatives, and cheap fillers. Here’s what to pay attention to while you shop around:

Calories Per Serving

As you’ve seen, the sheer amount of powder you have to drink with some of these brands to get in a serving can be staggering. So, you want to make sure it’s worth your while. Check the serving size in terms of how many scoops and how many grams per scoop are in a mass gainer. 

If it has you taking 4 scoops in a serving, but that will only get you 500 calories, it’s a no. You may as well make yourself a big old meal and, at that point, is a mass gainer supplement really serving its purpose?

Saturated Fat

Healthy fats are usually necessary in a gainer protein powder. Compared to protein and carbohydrates, which both have 4 calories per gram, fat has 9 calories per gram, making it a really effective way to boost the calorie content of a mass gainer supplement.

Scoops Per Serving

It’s important to be aware of what your threshold is in terms of how much volume you can consume at one time. In spite of the fact that there are some people who can drink a literal liter of a chocolate concoction that has thousands of calories, there are others who are likely not as enthusiastic about it. 

Remember, the more scoops there are per serving, the more liquid you’ll have to mix it in to make it drinkable. These mass gainers typically come in massive tubs! So, don’t waste your hard-earned money committing to something you won’t be able to consume the way it is designed to be consumed for maximum benefits. 

Additional Ingredients

This is less important than the other guidelines above. However, they can definitely increase the value of a mass gainer supplement. If it contains other ingredients that can help you put on lean muscle mass or protect against muscle breakdown, that’s a major plus. Ingredients like creatine, HMB, or glutamine can do nothing but help your weight gain goals. 

FAQs About Protein Powder for Weight Gain

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

References

1. Rozenek R, Ward P, Long S, Garhammer J. Effects of high-calorie supplements on body composition and muscular strength following resistance training. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2002;42(3):340-347.
2. Wu SH, Chen KL, Hsu C, et al. Creatine Supplementation for Muscle Growth: A Scoping Review of Randomized Clinical Trials from 2012 to 2021. Nutrients. 2022;14(6):1255. Published 2022 Mar 16. doi:10.3390/nu14061255
3. Kim J. Pre-sleep casein protein ingestion: new paradigm in post-exercise recovery nutrition. Phys Act Nutr. 2020;24(2):6-10. doi:10.20463/pan.2020.0009
4. Townsend JR, Morimune JE, Jones MD, et al. The Effect of ProHydrolase® on the Amino Acid and Intramuscular Anabolic Signaling Response to Resistance Exercise in Trained Males. Sports (Basel). 2020;8(2):13. Published 2020 Jan 22. doi:10.3390/sports8020013
5. Davoodi SH, Shahbazi R, Esmaeili S, et al. Health-Related Aspects of Milk Proteins. Iran J Pharm Res. 2016;15(3):573-591
6. Cordingley DM, Cornish SM, Candow DG. Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Catabolic Effects of Creatine Supplementation: A Brief Review. Nutrients. 2022;14(3):544. Published 2022 Jan 27. doi:10.3390/nu14030544

Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD

Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD is a sports dietitian and the head of performance nutrition for the NBA G League Ignite. In addition to working with pro athletes, Destini has ghostwritten four weight loss and wellness cookbooks. She also authors online content covering fitness and nutrition topics.

Further reading

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